Phemba Mfundi Camp August 2010

On the 13th of August 2010 the Nelson Mandela Institute team went down to the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu to host the Phemba Mfundi Camp. One aim of this learner leadership programme is to foster organic self-organisation among learners. Another is to demonstrate a productive pedagogy (the art or science of teaching) and to provide a reflective experience to re-inspire teachers. The camp ran for three days with 160 learners in attendance; 20 mentors from the University of Fort Hare; a group of youth from Ginsberg; and 20 teachers from across all the schools NMI works with. The NMI has been hosting these camps for over two years now and conducts them three times a year.

This time around the experience was overwhelming, This is largely because we are beginning to see the momentum and improvement in the learner’s work over time. The weekend was a success and I feel that we are now starting to reap the fruits of our hard labor, not only as the NMI staff but for all the stakeholders involved. At these camps we usually host writing workshops that concentrate on all the writing genres, but this year we decided to concentrate only on Poetry. Next year we will switch to short stories or autobiographies.

The learners were eager to learn and their writing has improved so much. Because August was dedicated to women, our theme was Woman’s Day. Learners wrote amazing poems and I feel I should share this particular poem written by a group of learners:

NYANGA YAMANINA
Sithi huntshu nyanga yamanina!
Sithi makube chosi kube hele nyanga yamanina!
Sitsho kuni bafazindini be Afrika iphela!

Ndithetha ngenyanga yamanina
Nina boomama ababhunxa amabele amade
Ninyiselela isizwe sonke ngamabele emade
Masitshoni sonke isizwe sakuthi sithi
Halala nyanga yamanina halala
Wathint’ abafazi wathint’ imbokodo

I was so impressed with this poem and I hope you will find meaning in it. What also made the camp special was the dedication from the teachers who work with us and the unity from our bother and sisterhood. To the learners, Bravo guys, you did us proud!